Annunciator for horse races



May 25, 1937. F. KIMBELL. 2,081,822

ANNUNCIATOR FpR HORSE RACES Filed June 11, 1956 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 UMBERSa, 0 O 0 o o o o o a TRACK POSITIONS 40 DELAIING START-w 1 AT BREAKSTARTING QUARTER m,

. HALF Mi a QUARTER Mi N: Mi.

STRETCH May 25, 1937.

. F.- KIMBELL ANNUNCIATOR FOR HORSE RACES Filed June 11, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Fomj ce E'rnbel/ I Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 11311. 1??? Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84.748

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an annunciator for horse races, or the like.More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel type ofapparatus, adapted for use at race tracks, to indicate to the patrons ofthe track, the progress of the various horses whilethe race is beingrun.

It is a well known fact that it is extremely difiicult for the patronsat a horse race to follow the progress of the various horses while therace is going on. At the larger tracks throughout the country, the racetracks are one mile in circumference, and except when the horses aredirectly in front of the grandstand, the patrons cannot distinguishwhich horse is leading the race and which ones are trailing behind. Thisdifllculty is particularly apparent when the horses are rounding a turnand when they are closely bunched together. Also, the confusion andexcitement which are always attendant upon the running of an importantrace further tend to obscure the happenings on the track. In consequenceof these factors, many patrons do not know what has happened until therace has been finished, and the winning numbers are posted on t theoiiicial board. This lack of knowledge materially detracts from theenjoyment of the public at the races.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an annunciatorboard, placed at a position of vantage where it will be visible to all,adapted to indicate the progress of the race from the time that thehorses go to the barrier, until the race is completed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide electrical meanswhich will indicate the numbers and relative positions of the threeleading horses during the entire progress of the race.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means which willindicate, from time to time, what portion of the race has been run. Inother words, the annunciator of the present invention will indicate the'break, the first quarter, the half, the third quarter, the mile, and thestretch drive in a long race. In short races, only certain of theseindications will be used, for instance, the break, the quarter mile, thehalf mile, and the stretch, or distances in furlongs.

It is a further object tocombine with the means for indicating theprogress of the race, the rela-' tive positions of the leading horses ateach stage.

It often happens that considerable dimculty is,

encountered by the race starter in getting all of the horses properlylined up in front of the barrier before the race can be started. Thisdelay is usually occasioned because of the fractious antics of one ortwo of the horses. The patrons are always anxious to know which horse orhorses are causing the delay, and it is an object of the presentinvention to give this information by my novel annunciator. Inaccordance with the present invention. if substantial delay isencountered in getting the horsesv oil, a special signal will bedisplayed on the annunciator. together with the number or numbers of theoffending horses.

- It is a further object of the invention to provide control means forthe annunciator so arranged that a person or persons positioned at anadvantageous place to see the progress of the race, may operate the sameto control the signals or indications appearing on the annunciator,thereby to inform the public of the progress of the race. Preferably,this control means will comprise a keyboard provided with a plurality ofbuttons which the operator may depress to eflect the illumination ofcorresponding indicating lights on the annunciator board. If desired,instead of having the annunciator controlled from a single point ofvantage, by a single observer, separate control boards may be placed. atappropriately spaced points around the track, so that the patrol judgesat those points may indicate the respective positions of the leadinghorses and also the point reached in the progress of the race.

In the accompanying drawings, a plurality of forms of annunciators areshown, together with one appropriate control circuit, but it must beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the details ofconstruction shown or to the specific forms of annunciators or circuits,but covers any similar devices coming within the scope of the appendedclaims or their equivalents.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an annunciator board.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a control panel there for.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing, diagrammatically, one manner ofwiring the annunciator board and control panel of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an elevatlonal view, corresponding to Figure 1, showing amodification.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 5--5 of Figure l, and

' Figure 6 is a front elevation of a further modification.

The annunciator of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 5,may take the form of a tall, relatively narrow signboard which may.conveniently be placed in the infield of the race track;

It comprises a front casing section ll provided is divided by verticalplates 33, 34, 35, 3B and 37 with a plurality of columns of apertures H,l2,

l3. Behind the face plate l0 and closing the apertures ll, etc., thereis positioned a ground glass plate or the like. it. Instead of using asingle plate l4, asindicated in Figure 5, individual plates may be usedfor each aperture. Behind the translucent plate, I provide masks orstencils l5 which are cut to permit the passage of light overpredetermined patterns to indicate, on the ground glass plates,appropriate numbers, as indicated in Figure 1. Behind the masks, anyconventional form of reflector I6, sockets l1 and bulbs I 8 may bepositioned.

In addition to the front wall III, the annunciator comprises side wallsI9, 20 and a, rear wall 2|. Moreover, the interior space defined bythese walls partitions 22, 23 and horizontal partitions 24 to provide aplurality o1 isolated cells within the bodyor the annunciator. Each cellcontains a bulb, socket and reflector and an electric wire 25 leading tothe socket to energize the bulb. The metallic frame of the annunciatorconstitutes a ground return common to all of the bulbs.

Above the three columns of apertures ll, l2,

illuminated indicating means to designate the columns therebelow as,respectively, First, Second and Third. These indicating means may takethe form of elongated, arrow-like, illuminated glass plates 21, 28, 29.is positioned a bulb similar to the bulbs disclosed in Figure 5.

Below the three columns of apertures, I may position, if desired, someappropriately illuminated indicia, to indicate the character of the datawhich will appear thereabove in the columns, as shown at 30, Figure 1. 7

At some other appropriate place on the face of the annunciator board,such as at the bottom thereof, additional apertures will be providedwhich may be illuminated to indicate the progress fifthe race. Forinstance, and as indicated at 3|, an illuminable plate may be providedto indicate that there .is a similar plate 32 may be positioned adjacentthereto, to indicate the break 01 the race. Additional may be providedto indicate when the horses have reached the quarter mile, the halfmile, the three. quarter mile post, the one mile post'and the stretch.Separate illuminating means will be provided for each 01 these panels,and consequently the panels will be illuminated "respectivel when thehorses break from the barrieriwhen th quarter mile, half mile, threequarter mile and one mile posts have been passed. As the horses comedown the stretch, the

' final panel will be illuminated to indicate that I Preferably thesebuttons feet.

As indicated in Figure 5, the hunt race I0 01' the annunciator board ispreferably hinged at one side, as at 38, so that it may be swung open topermit access to the interior thereof. This action will also make itpossible to change the stencils behind the apertures I I, I2, etc., andthe panels 3|31. For'instance,in a. short race, it might be desir-- ableto change the panels which read "Quarter mile", "One mile", toappropriate furlong indicia. Such substitution can be readil complished.v

The control panel shown in Figure 2 comprises a plurality of buttonsIll, 40a, lb-49, a, b, each adapted to illuminate one oi the lightsbehind the apertures in in each horizontal row Behind each plate theredelay at the start of the race. A

'- until a corresponding number the columns H, H, ll.

are interconnected by mechanism of a well known type, so that when anyone button is depressed to complete a, circuit to av particular lightbulb, any other button in the same row which has been previouslydepressed, will immediately be raised to breakthe circuit leading to thebulb whichit controls. Circuit makers and breakers of this .type arewell known in the automatic telephone art.

pendent of the others. and are not mechanically connected thereto.

In the circuit diagram disclosed in Figure 3, the switches 40,4011, bare diagrammatic representations of the buttons bearing the samereference characters in Figure 2. Switch 40 will energize the bulbbehind the stencil l5 to illuminate the ground glass plate It in theuppermost aperture in column II, with the figure 1", under the panelreading First. Thus, if horse number 1 is running first in the race,switch I will be closed and the number "1" will be illuminated in theaperture under the legend First. On the other handf if horse number 1should be running third, switch 40b would be closed, whereupon currentwould flow to the bulb behind the uppermost aperture in the column Hi toilluminate a figure 1 under the legend Third.

If horse number 5 should be running either first, second or third, thebutton 44, a or b would be pressed, closing the corresponding switch. Asindicated by the circuit diagram, Figure 3, the appropriate light I 8,la, l8b would be illuminated to indicate that fact.

The switches 50 -56, shown in Figure 3, are diagrammatic representationsof the circuit makers and breakers controlled by the buttons Sit-56 ofFigure 2. Switch 50 controls the flow of current to the light behind thepanel 3|, marked Delay Start, Figures 1 and 4. Likewise, the otherswitches control the ghts behind the other panels 32-31.

The switch 58 is a master switch for the entire .annunciator board and,additionally, serves to effect the illumination of the the panel 30.

The switch 51 controls the iliiimination of the lights behind the panels21, 28,- 29. Usually it will not be desirable to illuminate thesepanels, bearing the indicia First, Second and Third the race hasstarted, because prior to that time, the numbers illuminated in thecolumns i I, I2, and I3 will not indicate the positions of the horses,but, on the other hand, will announce the fact that certain horses aredelaying the start.

From the above description, the nithod of operation of the invention, asdisclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, will be apparent to one skilled inthe art. An operator positioned at a. point of vantage will manipulatethe buttons on the control panel, to indicate the respective positionsof light bulbs behind the three leading horses during the progress ofthe race. He will press a button on the top row of buttons (Fig. 2)corresponding to the number of the horse which is leading the race atany particular time. In the left-hand column ll of apertures on the faceof the annunciator board,

will be brightly illuminated, and allot the other numbers in that columnwill be dark. and invisible. Simultaneously, he will depress a button inthe middle row bearing a number corresponding to the number ofthe horsethat happens to be running second, and a. corresponding number will beilluminated in the second column I2 of apertures. One button in the.lowermost row will also be depressed to-indicate which horse is runningthird. During the progress of the race, and as the respective positionsof the horses change, different buttons will be depressed. When a newbutton in a horizontal row is depressed, all of the other buttons inthat row will be raised, by automatic means or the type referred toabove. As the horses pass the various positionson the track, the variousbuttons 5056 will be depressed to indicate the progress of the race.

Any number of annunciator boards of the type described in the presentapplication may be connected in parallel to a single control panel, and,a plurality of control panels may be used to control one or moreannunciator boards. For instance, it might be desirable to place severaloi the annunciator boards in the infield, so that they could be seen byall of the patrons of the track. Additional boards might be placed inthe paddock and near themutuel betting windows, or at other convenientplaces at the tracks. As suggested above, the additional control panelsmight be placed at spaced points around the track, to be operated by thepatrol judges .who are positioned so close to the track that they caneasily tell the exact positions of the horses as they pass theirrespective patrol posts.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figure 4' is different only inits arrangement of indicia. Under an appropriately illuminated panel 60,bearing a convenient legend such as Horse Number, there is arranged avertical row of apertures 6 l-'I0, each of which is adapted to beilluminated to indicate the numbers of the horses participating in therace. Thus, if ten horses were scheduled to start in the race, and allactually started, each of the apertures would be illuminated, and thenumbers 1 to 10 inclusive, would be visible. However, if certain horses,for instance numbers 3, 7 and 9 were scratched, and did not start, thecorresponding numbers would not be illuminated. Adjacent the column ofnumbers under the panel 60, this form of the invention contemplates theuse of three additional rows of lights, ll, 12, 13. Above each of theserows there may be illuminated legends to indicate First, Second, Third.Lights behind these apertures will be illuminated to indicate thathorses bearing the numbers corresponding to the numbers adjacent theretoin colunhi SIL-are-running respectively first, second, or third andthese lights will change as the positions of the horses change duringthe course of the race. A fourth column of apertures 14, may beprovided, between the column 60 and the column I I to indicate that thehorse bearing the number adjacent thereto is running in the money' Thismay be effected, for instance, by connecting the bulb behind eachaperture in the column II in series with the several bulbs adjacentthereto in the columns ll l2, 13, between those bulbs and a commonground return. connection to the annunciator frame.

The panels 3l-3| in the annunciator of Figure 4 correspond with similarpanels in the first form of the invention, and need not be furtherdescribed.

The operation of this form of the invention will be substantially thesame as described above in connection with the form shown in Figures 1to 3.

The advantage in the alternative form is that the numbers of theparticipants in the race are con- 'stantly illuminated, and independentindicating means are provided to show the respective positions of thethree leading participants.

In Figure 6, a further modification is shown,

at the left of the annunciator boardunder the legend "Horse No.. Thenumbers of the starters will be illuminated. Under successive columnsheaded Delay start, Break", One quarter mile, One half mile, Threequarter mile", One mile, Stretch", spaces are provided for theillumination of the horses running first, second and third. Forinstance, if horse number 3 is leading at the break, under the legendBreak", opposite horse number 3, number 1 will be illuminated. If horsenumber 10 is running second at that point, number 2 will be illuminatedunder Break in the area horizontally aligned with horse number 10. Thissystem is carried out throughout the entire progress of the race by'acontrol board somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 2, butnecessarily containing a duplication of the buttons and switchesdisclosed therein.

In the three forms of annunciator shown in the accompanying drawings,the signals and the like are arranged for a ten horse race. This figureis entirely arbitrary, and the invention is not limited .to anyparticular number. Obviously, it might be desirable, at certain tracks iwhere the number of entries in many of the. races is high, to increasethe size of the annunciator board to accommodate the maximum num- 1 herof starters.

The invention may be embodied in many other forms of apparatus and allsuch modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims ortheir equivalents must be considered to' be included in my invention.

I claim:

1. An annunciator for horse races comprising means for indicating thenumbers of the three leading horses in a race and their respectiverunning positions, means for changing the numbers and positionsindicated by said means to correspond to changes in the numbers andpositions of the leading horses during the progress of the race, andadditional means for indicating, from time to time, the portion of therace completed during the progress of the race.

2. An annunciator for horse races comprising means for selectivelyilluminatin and indicating numbers corresponding to the umbers of thethree leading horses during the progress of a horse race, additionalmeans for illuminating signals associated with each of the illuminatednumbers to indicate the relative positions of the horses correspondingto said numbers, and means for selectively and successively illuminatingindependent indicating means to show the progress of the race, from timeto time, during the actual running of the race.

3. An annunciator for horse races comprising at least three sets ofselectively illuminable numbers, each number .of a set corresponding tothe number of a different horse in a race, an indicia adjacent each setindicating the running positions respectively of first, second andthird, electrically controlled means for illuminating a number in oneset to indicate the number of the ning in other positions in the race,said control 7 means being operable duringthe progress of the race tochange the numbers appearing in said sets as the numbers '0! the horsesin said positions change during the progress of the race.

4. An annunciator in accordance with claim 3 comprising an additionalseries of signals indica tive of the portion oi the race completed, fromtime to time, during the progress of the race, and electrical controlmeans for said series of signals.

5. An annunciator for horse races comprising a plurality of electriclight bulbs arranged in a to indicate the relative positions of thehorses whether first, second or bearing the numbers illuminated andindicated by the adiacentbuibs in the first column, and independentcircuit control means for each or said bulbs, whereby'the numbers of thethree leading horses may be indicated by the illumination of three orthe bulbs arranged in the first column, and the position of each horse.

third, may be indicated by the illumination of horizontally alignedbulbs in the other vertical columns of bulbs.-

6. An annunciator for horse races comprising a casing having a pluralityof translucent windows in its front face arranged in horizontal rows andvertical columns, an independently" controllable light behind eachwindow, and a stencil mask between each window and its light, wherebythe illumination of any light serves to project 5 the figure of a numbercorresponding to its stem [Ofiicial Gazette February, 7, 1939 entersthis disclaimer to that part of the aosipaa cil maskupon and through theadjacent window, said masks and their figures being obscured by saidwindow when said lights are extinguished,

I the numbers on the stencils behind the windows in the horizontal rowsbeing the same but being diilerent progressively from top to bottom inthe vertical columns, the columns serving to indicate respectivelyfirst, second and third, and the rows serving to indicate the numbers ofthe difl'erent horses in a race, whereby the iilumination of anyparticular light will project a number through a window to indicate thatthe horse bearing that number is running respectively first,

second or third.

7. An annunciator for indicating the running positions of the threeleading horses in a race during the actual progress of the race atpredetermined times therein, comprising indicia constantly visibleduring the progress of the race indicating respectively first, secondand third running positions, a plurality of sets 01' numbers, one setassociated with each of the aforesaid indicia, each set including anumber corre-- sponding to each diilferent horse in the race, anadditional series of indicia selectively iiluminable to indicate theportion of the race completed, and control means to make visibleselectively the particular number in each set corresponding to thenumber of the horse running in the position indicated by the associatedfirst-mentioned constantly visible indicia, said control means servingto illuminate the corresponding iiluminable indicia of said additionalseries to indicate the portion of the race completed when the numbers ofthe sets are made visible.

roanrcr:

b i scam M E R Miami, Fla. May 25, 1937. D1sclaimer filed January 12,1939, by the assignee,

ANNUNCIATOR FOR HoRsE RACES. Patpatent covered by claini 3- means beingoperable duringthe progress of the race to change the numbers appearingin said sets as the numbers '0! the horses in said positions changeduring the progress of the race.

4. An annunciator in accordance with claim 3 comprising an additionalseries of signals indica tive of the portion oi the race completed, fromtime to time, during the progress of the race, and electrical controlmeans for said series of signals.

5. An annunciator for horse races comprising a plurality of electriclight bulbs arranged in a to indicate the relative positions of thehorses whether first, second or bearing the numbers illuminated andindicated by the adiacentbuibs in the first column, and independentcircuit control means for each or said bulbs, whereby'the numbers of thethree leading horses may be indicated by the illumination of three orthe bulbs arranged in the first column, and the position of each horse.

third, may be indicated by the illumination of horizontally alignedbulbs in the other vertical columns of bulbs.-

6. An annunciator for horse races comprising a casing having a pluralityof translucent windows in its front face arranged in horizontal rows andvertical columns, an independently" controllable light behind eachwindow, and a stencil mask between each window and its light, wherebythe illumination of any light serves to project 5 the figure of a numbercorresponding to its stem [Ofiicial Gazette February, 7, 1939 entersthis disclaimer to that part of the aosipaa cil maskupon and through theadjacent window, said masks and their figures being obscured by saidwindow when said lights are extinguished,

I the numbers on the stencils behind the windows in the horizontal rowsbeing the same but being diilerent progressively from top to bottom inthe vertical columns, the columns serving to indicate respectivelyfirst, second and third, and the rows serving to indicate the numbers ofthe difl'erent horses in a race, whereby the iilumination of anyparticular light will project a number through a window to indicate thatthe horse bearing that number is running respectively first,

second or third.

7. An annunciator for indicating the running positions of the threeleading horses in a race during the actual progress of the race atpredetermined times therein, comprising indicia constantly visibleduring the progress of the race indicating respectively first, secondand third running positions, a plurality of sets 01' numbers, one setassociated with each of the aforesaid indicia, each set including anumber corre-- sponding to each diilferent horse in the race, anadditional series of indicia selectively iiluminable to indicate theportion of the race completed, and control means to make visibleselectively the particular number in each set corresponding to thenumber of the horse running in the position indicated by the associatedfirst-mentioned constantly visible indicia, said control means servingto illuminate the corresponding iiluminable indicia of said additionalseries to indicate the portion of the race completed when the numbers ofthe sets are made visible.

roanrcr:

b i scam M E R Miami, Fla. May 25, 1937. D1sclaimer filed January 12,1939, by the assignee,

ANNUNCIATOR FOR HoRsE RACES. Patpatent covered by claini 3-

